Coin collector apparatus for use at telephone pay stations



Nov. 16, 1937.

M. L. LANDRETH 2,099,124 COIN COLLECTOR APPARATUS FOR USE AT TELEPHONE PAY STATIONS Filed Jan. 9, 1936 06.2 /3 /7 64 23 35- 33 A9 2 Q 26 20 65 x I 45 70 63 3340 64 62 2 6% 43 32 69 "I 70 6 I 72 F/G 3 7 3 3/33 8 7866 l u 5T //98 73 I 1:" j I 24 \//V|/[/V7'0fi M; L. LAND/Mill By #a Law Patented Nov. 16, 1937 ETS FFIQE COIN COLLECTOR APPARATUS FOR USE AT TELEPHGNE PAY STATIGNS Application January 9, 1936, Serial No. 58,315

6 Claims.

This invention relates to coin collector apparatus for use at telephone pay stations, and more particularly to an electromagnetic structure and signal switching mechanism which controls 5 the collection or refunding of the deposited coins.

The invention is particularly suitable for use in telephone pay station apparatus of the class shown in U. S. Patent 1,043,219 to O. F. Forsberg, November 5, 1912. In the operation of such ap- 10 paratus a coin or token is deposited by the subscriber which in its passage operates a mechanism, contained in a housing, which causes the closure of a switch, whereby a circuit is closed to cause the operation of a signal at the central 15 office which indicates that communication is desired. As a part of this mechanism there is an electromagnet which may be operated in one direction to collect the deposited coin and in the other direction to return the coin to the sub- 20 scriber. The operating circuit of this electromagnet includes the switch contacts which are closed when the coin is deposited. With such a mechanism restoring coil springs acting in a downward direction have been used to position 5 the armature of the electromagnet in a neutral position after operation in either direction. The arrangement of these springs is such that they tend to cause appreciable wear on the armature pivots. Furthermore the location of the signal switching mechanism has been such that fraudulent manipulation thereof by unscrupulous persons is made possible.

Objects of this invention are to simplify the construction and to reduce wear on and the cost 35 of manufacture of such electromagnetic structures while associating therewith the signal switching mechanism in such a manner that fraudulent actuation of the signal switch is made more difiicult.

40 In accordance with the above objects the invention contemplates, in one embodiment thereof, an electromagnetic structure and signal switching arrangement for a telephone pay station coin collector wherein a pivoted armature 45 of the electromagnet is restored to its neutral position by leaf springs forming integral parts of a leaf spring pile-up of the signal switch with the result that a minimum of stress is exerted on the armature pivots, a minimum number of parts 50 is required, and the arrangement lends itself to the location of the signal switch at the rear of the electromagnet whereby fraudulent manipulation thereof is made more difiicult.

The invention will be better understood by ref- 55 erence to the following detailed description taken.

in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view showing the general form of a telephone pay station with a part of the housing removed to show the usual location of the electromagnetic structure to which the invention is directed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the electromagnetic structure rotated 90 from its position as shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a side view of the structure of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. 1, wherein an embodiment of this invention is shown applied to a telephone coin collector of the general type disclosed in the herein mentioned Forsberg patent and as described in detail therein, when it is desired to make a call a coin is deposited in a coin gauge H3 and after passing through certain coin channels provided in a coin chute H is discharged into a coin hopper I2 and comes to rest on a pivotal coin trap at the bottom of the coin hopper. The Forsberg patent also describes an electromagnetic structure and signal switching mechanism of which the present invention is an improvement. 5

The electromagnet comprises two coils l3 and i4 (Figs. 2 and 3) having magnetic material cores which terminate in pole pieces I! and I8, respectively, so shaped as to leave but a small airgap when an armature I9 is operated to take a position adjacent either of the pole pieces. The coils l3 and M are mounted on a base plate 20 of magnetic material which in turn is supported in a housing indicated as a whole in Fig. 1. A piece of magnetized material 23 secured to the base plate 20 extends upwards therefrom to a point just under the middle of the armature Hi to form part of the magnetic circuit. A bridge plate 24 of non-magnetic material is attached to and extends between the upper ends of the coils I3 and M, the middle portion of the bridge plate having upturned portions 25 and 26 which are provided at one end with angularly disposed arms 2'! and 28, respectively. The portion 25 adjacent its end opposite the arm 21 has a vertical extension 3i terminating at its upper end in a bifurcated portion having its furcations 32 extending outwardly at right angles thereto.

The armature structure comprises the armature proper I 9 upon which is mounted preferably by screws 2. non-magnetic metal supporting plate 33 having a downwardly extending ear, at each side intermediate the ends of the armature, the ears being perforated or indented to receive the points of trunnion screws 34 and 35, thus forming a bearing about which the supporting plate and attached armature may pivot. Formed on each end of the supporting plate 33 is a downwardly extending arm 38 adapted when the armature I9 is moved about its pivot points to engage the upper end of the adjacent pole piece I! or iii to limit the movement of thearmature. Extending, downwardly from the ear of the supporting plate 33, which receives the trunnion screw 34 is an arm 39 having at its lower end an offset bifurcated portion 40, the furcations thereof adapted to receive and engage therebetween an extension 4| of the coin trap arranged in the coin hopper l2 (Fig. 1).

Associated with the electromagnet is a signal switching mechanism 42 (Fig. 3) which combines therewith means for restoring the electromagnet armature E9 to its neutral position after operation in either direction. It will be observed, referring to Fig. 1, that the signal switching mechanism 42 is located in the space between the electromagnet and the coin hopper I2 and not forward of the electromagnet just inside of the front wall of the housing as is the case in coin collectors of the general type disclosed in the herein mentioned Forsberg patent. This is also apparent from Fig. 3 which is a back view of the electromagnetj By arranging the mechanism 42 at the rear of the electrdntagnet fraudulent manipulation of the switchiby inserting thin strips ofmaterial or wire through crevices in the housing and actuating the switch therewith is hardly possible. i

Attached to the outer vertical face of the angularly disposed bridge arm 21 is a right angle member 43 carrying on its free outer arm a downwardly extending leaf contact and restoring spring pile-up 45. The spring pile-up 45 comprises a central member 4 5 of relatively great stiffness having its lower end sheared in a vertical direction for a distance to form two arms 4'! and 48 which are bent laterally so as to be in different planes. Abutting each side of the member 45 at its upper end are armature restoring springs 49 and 55 which for the greater part of their length 'are spaced from the member 45 and at their lower ends are normally spaced apart a distance determined by the distance between the outer'faces of the arms 41 and 48 of the member 45 against which they rest under tension, the arms 4'! and 48 acting as stop members. Spaced from the armature restoring springs 49 and55 byinsulating spacers are relatively light springs 53 and 54, respectively, formed from a single memberbent in the middle as indicated at 55. This spring pile -up 45 is mounted on the free outer arm of theangle member 43'with in- 'sulating'spacersin a well known manner. The restoring springs 49 and 55 carry contacts 55 and 51, respectively, arranged to engage contacts 58 and 59 carried by the springs 53 and 54, respectively. A common terminal for the contact springs' 53 and 54, bridgediat 55, is indicated at 62 and a terminal for the restoring contact springs 49 and 55 at 63.

Pivoted'atfi l to the arms 27 and 28 of the bridge plate 24 is an angular lever 55 for actuating the switching mechanism 42,.the lever having a downwardly and inwardly extending arm 56 carrying at its lower end an insulating pin 67 normally engaging an inner face of the spring 54 within an offset portion thereof and restrainirig it from moving to close the contacts 51 and 59, 'inwhich position of the lever a line circuit to the operator through the contacts 51 and 5 is open. The opposite contacts 56 and 5 8 at this arm 13 of the trigger H protects through a slot in the coin hopper [2 so that a coin passing into the hopper from the coin chute .H strikes the arm 73 and trips the trigger cam portion ill from under the arm 69 of the lever 55, whereupon the contact spring 54 no longer being restrained by the pin 6'! of the lever 65 forces the contacts 51 and 59 together, thereby closing a circuit for giving a signal to the operator at the central office that a coin has been deposited. The trigger H is held in its tripped position by a shoulder 16 thereof engaging the end of the arm 59 of the lever 55. When the lever 65 is rocked about its pivot 64 in a counterclockwise direction by an actuation of the armature IS, in a manner to be described hereinafter, the trigger H is allowed to return to its normal position due to the unbalanced weight of that portion thereof at the other side of its pivot 12 opposite the arm l3 thereof. A leaf spring I! fixed to the trigger H with its free end engaging the extension 3! of the bridge plate 24 acts as a stop and cushion for the trigger.

The pivotal plate 33 carrying the armature I9 has extending horizontally therefrom at its left end an insulating roller 18. Formed on the lever 65 at the left of the arm 66 thereof and adjacent the roller 73 3 is a cam surface '13 which in the normal position of the lever wherein the contacts 5! and 59 are open is spaced from the roller; Upon the lever 65 being released, in the manner hereinbefore described, by the trigger ll which movement closes the contacts 57 and 59, the cam surface 19 engages, at its middle portion, the roller 18 and thereafter when the armature I9 is rocked about its pivots in either direction it will be apparent that the roller 18, which moves with the armature, and is engaging the cam surface, will cause a counterclockwise 'rotation of, the lever, thus permitting the cam portion 10 of the trigger H to move to its normal latching position under the arm 69 of the lever. The lower end of the arm 39 of the supporting plate 33. at a point below the ends of the arms 41 and 48 of the spring pile-up member 46 carries an insulating pin 8!] which extends outwardly between and into engagement with the opposite inner faces of the armature restoring springs 49 an energizing circuit through the coils l3 and i4 ,is closed, by the operator at the central ofiice,

the pin 85 carried by the arm 39, which moves with the armature, flexes one or the other of the springs 49 and 55, thus storing energy therein for restoring the armature to its neutral position upondee'nergization of the coils.

In operation, a deposited coin passing down the hopper l2 strikes the trigger arm 13 projecting thereinto, thus releasing the switch actuating lever 65, which moves clockwise about its pivot 54, and the contact spring 54 being no lenger restrained by the pin 5?, carried by the arm 66 01 the lever 65, moves to engage its contact 59 with the contact 57 of the armature restoring spring 59, thereby closing a circuit for giving a signal at the central office that a coin has been deposited, and also-preparing a circuit by means of which the, energization of the coils l3 and I 4 may be controlled by the operator from the This movement of the lever 65 also moves' the cam surface 19 thereof into engagement with the insulating roller 18 on the pivotal plate 33 which carries the armature l9.

When the operator at the central ofiice desires to refund or collect the deposited coin a circuit is closed to complete the energization circuit for the'eleotromagnet and the armature I9 is moved about its pivots 34 and 35 either clockwise or counterclockwise. In either case one of the armature restoring springs 49 or 56 is flexed in an outward direction by the pin 86 moving with the armature. In the case of refunding the coin the operator closes the circuit to energize the electromagnet so that the armature l9 will move clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3. This movement of the armature I 9 causes the pin 86 to move to the left, thus flexing the spring 49 to store energy therein and carrying its contact 56 into engagement with the contact 58 on the spring 53 which is bridged at 55 to the spring. 54 carrying the contact 59. Simultaneously with the closing of the bridging circuit through the contacts 56 and 58 the insulating roller pin 18, which is moved upwardly during the clockwise movement of the armature l9, rides up the cam surface 19, thus rocking the lever '65 counter-clockwise and through the insulating pin '61 carried thereby the spring 54 is moved outwardly, which opens the circuit through the opposite contacts 51 and 59 an instant later than the closing of contacts 56 and 58.

The action is such that at no time while the electromagnet is energized is the signaling circuit opened, since the contacts 57 and 59 are in parallel to contacts 56 and 58, and both sets are not opened until the armature is returned to normal position. Also, during the movement of the armature l9 and the lever 65 the arm 69 of the lever moves upwardly from holding engagement behind the shoulder 16 of the trigger H and the cam portion I of the latter moves to its normal latching position under the arm 69. In this position the contact spring 54 is held out of contact with the restoring spring 56 by the insulating pin 61 carried by the lever 65. When the energizing current to the electromagnet is interrupted by the operator the restoring spring 59 acting upon the pin 30 of the arm 39 restores the armature l9 to normal position.

In the case of collecting the coin the circuit is closed at the central office to energize the electromagnet so that the armature l9 will move counterclockwise whereupon the armature causes the pin 86 tomove to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, thus flexing the spring 50 and storing energy therein. At the same time the insulating roller pin 18 moves down the cam surface 19 and rocks the lever 65 counterclockwise and in the manner previously described the cam portion 16 of the trigger H moves to its normal latching position under the arm 69 of the lever 65. In this case the contacts 56 and 58 are of course not closed, but the contacts 51 and 59 remain closed due to the flexing of spring 56 to the right even when the spring 55 is locked in its extreme right hand position and these contacts are not opened until the armature is restored to normal position. When the operator interrupts the energizing current to the electromagnet the restoring spring 56 acting upon the pin 86 of the arm 39 restores the armature I9 to normal position wherein the contact spring is held from engaging the restoring spring 59 by the pin 61 of the lever 65.

It is evident that electromagnetic structures and signal switching mechanisms for telephone pay station coin collectors constructed and arranged, as above described, wherein means in the form of leaf springs are provided for restoring the armature to its neutral position, the springs forming integral parts of the leaf spring pile-up of the signal switch will result in simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of rnanufacture. Also by employing the described means for restoring the armature to its neutral position a minimum of stress and hence also of Wear on the armature pivots is effected. Furthermore by locating the signal switch at the rear of the electromagnets fraudulent actuation of the signal switch by unscrupulous persons is made more difiicult.

Although the embodiment of this invention as herein illustrated and described is particularly well adapted for use in connection with telephone pay station coin collectors, it should be understood that the invention is capable of other applications and should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electromagnetic device, operating windings, an armature having a normal position and operative positions on opposite sides of said normal position, means for holding said armature in normal position comprising a pair of leaf springs and an abutment carried by the armature and extending between said springs, a fixed bifurcated strip between said springs serving to stop them in normal position, and spring contacts arranged to be closed respectively by said first mentioned springs when they are flexed away from said bifurcated strip.

2. In a coin controlled telephone, a casing, a plurality of pairs of contacts within said casing for closing a central oifice circuit, a contact of one pair being connected to a contact of the other pair, coin operated means for closing one pair of said contacts, an electromagnet for controlling the disposition of the coin, and an armature for said electromagnet having a normal position and operative positions on opposite sides of said normal position, means for transmitting motion from said armature in its movement to one operative position during energization of said electromagnet to close the other pair of contacts and to open the first mentioned pair of contacts, said means being effective for closing said other pair of contacts prior to the opening of said first pair to hold said circuit closed while said electromagnet is energized, said magnet being located between all of said contacts and the front of the casing toshield them from unauthorized manipulation.

3. In a coin controlled apparatus, a coin hopper, a pair of electromagnets adjacent said hopper, a common armature therefor pivoted for movement either clockwise or counterclockwise, a contact spring pile-up comprising two pairs of contact springs arranged between said electromagnets and hopper, means including a pivotal trigger extending into said hopper operable by a coin passing thereinto for causing the operation of a-contact spring of said pile-up. and means for transmitting motion from said armature to one pair of contact springs of said pile-up in either of its movements during energization of said electromagnets effective to permit the return of said trigger by the action of gravity to its normal position and the return of said operated contact spring to its normal position, one of the contact springs of each pair being effective for restoring said armature to its normally neutral position upon deenergization of said electromagnets.

4. In a coin controlled apparatus, a coin hopper, an electro-magnet, a pivotal armature therefor, and a contact spring pile-up comprising two pairs of contact springs arranged between said electromagnet and hopper, means including a pivotal trigger extending into said hopper operatively associated with one spring of one of said pairs of contact springs for holding it out of contact with its companion spring, said trigger operable by a coin passing into said hopper for releasing said means whereby said restrained contact spring makes contact with its companion spring, means for transmitting motion from said armature to one pair of contact springs in one movement of said armature and to the other pair of springs in the other movement of said armature during energization of said electromagnets, and a cam surface on said before mentioned means effective during energization of said electromagnet to permit the return of said trigger by the action of gravity to its normal position and the return of said operated contact spring to its normal position, one of' the contact springs of each pair being efiective for restoring said armature to its normally neutral position upon deenergization of said electromagnet.

5. In a coin controlled apparatus, a coin hopper, a. pair of electromagnets adjacent said hopper, a bridge between the electromagnets, a cornmon armature for said electromagnets pivoted for movement either clockwise or counterclock- Wise on said bridge, a contact spring pile-up comtively associated with one pair of contact springs for holding them normally open, said trigger operable by a coin passing into said hopper for releasing said means whereby said one pair of open springs are permitted to close, means for trans-,

mitting motion from said armature to one pair of contact springs in one movement of the armature and to, one spring of each pair of contact springs in the other movement of the armature during energization of said'electromagnets effective 'to permit the return of said trigger by the action of gravity to its normal position and the return of said contact springs to their normally open position, the movement of the armature to transmit motion to one spring of each pair of contact springs efiective to close the other of said pair of contact springs before the first-mentioned pair of contact springs is opened, thus maintaining one pair of springs closed during energization of said electromagnets, one of the contact springs'of each pair being efiective to restore the armature to its normally neutral position upon deenergization of said electromagnets.

6. In a coin controlled apparatus, a pair of electromagnets, a common armature therefor pivoted for movement eitherclockwise or counterclockwise, a contact spring pile-up comprising two pairs of normally open contact springs, means for, transmitting motion from said armature to one pair of contact springs in one movement of said armature and to the other pair of contact springs in the other movement of said armature during energization of said electromagnets, one of the contact springs of each pair being effec tive to restore said armature to its normally neutral position upon deenergization of said electromagnets, and separately operable means in-- cluding a pivoted trigger operated by a deposited coin for closing one of said pairs of contacts prior to operation of said armature.

MORTON L. LANDRETH. 

